Poinsettia plant named &#39;NPCW16226&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new poinsettia plant particularly distinguished by having dark pink bracts and good keeping quality is disclosed.

Genus and species: Euphorbia pulcherrima.

Variety denomination: ‘NPCW16226’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety ofpoinsettia, botanically known as Euphorbia pulcherrima and hereinafterreferred to by the variety name ‘NPCW16226’. ‘NPCW16226’ was derivedfrom an X-ray induced mutation of a proprietary and unpatented redvariety known as ‘NPCW13208’.

In November 2010, a single plant was selected in Stuttgart, Germany. InApril 2011, ‘NPCW16226’ was first asexually propagated by vegetativeapical cuttings. ‘NPCW16226’ was found to reproduce true to type insuccessive generations of asexual propagation via vegetative apicalcuttings in Stuttgart, Germany.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Dark pink bracts; and    -   2. Good keeping quality.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new poinsettia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows an overall view of the whole plant. The photograph is of aplant approximately 16 to 18 weeks old grown indoors in Stuttgart,Germany in October 2016. The colors shown are as true as can bereasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘NPCW16226’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inStuttgart, Germany. Data was collected on plants 19-weeks-old afterpotting grown in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany under greenhouseconditions in December 2016. Color references are to The R.H.S. ColourChart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th)edition (2007).

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Euphorbiaceae.        -   Species.—Euphorbia pulcherrima.        -   Common name.—Poinsettia.        -   Variety.—‘NPCW16226’.-   Parentage: X-ray induced mutation of proprietary unpatented variety    ‘NPCW13208’.-   Growth:    -   -   Blooming habit.—Intermittent.        -   Flowering response time.—Approximately 55 days.        -   Keeping quality.—Good.-   Plant description:    -   -   Form.—Triangular.        -   Growth habit.—Upright.        -   Height.—32.0 cm to 35.0 cm.        -   Width.—23.0 cm to 28.0 cm.        -   Average number of inflorescences per plant.—5 to 6.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cuttings.—Apical cuttings.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—4 weeks.        -   Rooting habit and root color.—Freely branching and white.-   Lateral branches:    -   -   Color.—RHS 144A.        -   Length.—28.0 cm to 31.0 cm.        -   Internode length.—1.8 cm to 4.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.5 cm to 0.8 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching.        -   Number of lateral branches per plant.—5 to 6.        -   Texture.—Smooth.-   Leaves:    -   -   Quantity.—6 to 8 per lateral branch.        -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Number of lobes on the leaf blade.—Absent.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Length.—7.0 cm to 14.0 cm.        -   Width.—6.0 cm to 9.0 cm.        -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Vein color.—Upper surface: Transparent Lower surface: RHS            139D.        -   Variegation.—Absent.        -   Color.—Mature foliage: Upper surface: RHS 139A Lower            surface: RHS 139D Immature foliage: Upper surface: RHS 141A            Lower surface: RHS 139B.        -   Leaf petiole.—Length: 3.5 cm to 6.0 cm Diameter: 0.2 cm to            0.3 cm Color: Upper (part) surface: Greenish to RHS 59B            Lower (part) surface: More green than RHS 59B Texture:            Smooth Strength: Medium.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Lastingness of inflorescence on the plant.—4 weeks.        -   Natural flowering season.—End of November.        -   Diameter.—18.0 cm to 22.0 cm.        -   Height.—3.0 cm to 4.0 cm.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Bracts:    -   -   Number of bracts per inflorescence.—6 to 9.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Mostly entire, older bracts slightly serrate.        -   Size.—Length: 9.0 cm to 12.0 cm Width: 4.0 cm to 7.0 cm.        -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Venation pattern.—Reticulate.        -   Vein color.—Upper surface: RHS 59B Lower surface: RHS 181B.        -   Bract color.—Upper surface: Close to RHS 52B Lower surface:            RHS 51D.        -   Bract petiole.—Length: 0.5 cm to 2.5 cm Diameter: 0.2 cm to            0.3 cm Color: Upper (part) surface: RHS 59A Lower (part)            surface: RHS 181B Texture: Smooth Strength: Medium.-   Cyme:    -   -   Diameter.—1.0 cm to 2.0 cm.        -   Cyathia number.—7 to 10 per inflorescence.        -   Deformation of glands of the cyathium.—Absent.        -   Timing of opening of cyathia.—End of November. First pollen            appears in parallel to opening of the nectar cups; stigmas            appear 1 to 2 weeks later.        -   Cyathium.—Shape: Ovate Diameter: 0.2 cm to 0.5 cm Length:            0.3 cm to 0.8 cm Color: RHS 143C.        -   Peduncle.—Color: RHS 142B Length: 0.2 cm to 0.3 cm Diameter:            0.1 cm Texture: Smooth Strength: Medium.        -   Nectar cups.—Number: 1 per cyathium Diameter: 0.1 cm Size:            0.4 cm to 0.5 cm Color: RHS 1C.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamen quantity.—5 to 10 per cyathium.        -   Stamen shape.—Ovate.        -   Filament length.—0.25 cm.        -   Filament color.—RHS 46A.        -   Pollen quantity.—Moderate.        -   Pollen color.—RHS 12A.        -   Gynoecium.—Present. Pistil quantity per cyanthium: 1 Pistil            length: 0.2 cm Stigma form: Divided in two parts Stigma            color: RHS 183A Style length: 0.2 cm Style color: RHS 183A            Ovary length: 0.05 cm Ovary color: RHS 143C.-   Fruit and seed set: Not observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: No special disease or pest resistance    observed.-   Comparison with parental and known variety:

‘NPCW16226’ is a distinct variety of poinsettia having dark pink bracts.‘NPCW16226’ is distinguished from parental line ‘NPCW13208’ as describedin Table 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic Variety ‘NPCW16226’ ‘NPCW13208’ Bract color Darkpink (close to RHS 52B) Red

‘NPCW16226’ is distinguished from commercial line ‘Christmas FeelingsPink’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,222) also known as ‘NPCW07120’ asdescribed in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Characteristic Variety ‘NPCW16226’ ‘Christmas Feelings Pink’Bract color Close to RHS 52B Darker than RHS 58B/C Vigor Compact -medium Very strong

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of poinsettia plant named‘NPCW16226’ as illustrated and described herein.